The competition for a spot in Super Bowl LVIII started before the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens played in the AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium last season.
A video of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker brawling went viral. Tucker warmed up dangerously close to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tucker appeared to be stretching for the game before it started and was in the same vicinity as the Chiefs duo.
Tucker was apparently warned by Kelce that he needed to leave, but the Ravens player refused to back down and remained steadfast, grinning.
“Travis Kelce told Justin Tucker he needed to move because their QB Patrick Mahomes had to warm up. So Kelce kicked his ball away and threw his helmet,” NFL Network’s James Palmer tweeted.
After the little video went viral on X, Mahomes and Tucker allegedly carried on their altercation. A video appeared to show the two fighting back and forth after the Kelce incident.
As Tucker, a star player for the Ravens, tried to rehearse, Mahomes booted his stand in the way multiple times.
“Patrick Mahomes and Justin Tucker going at it pregame. Mahomes keeps kicking Tuckers holder away,” Palmer added on X.
Tucker allegedly intervened in the opposing team’s assigned area, which is against an unwritten rule, according to statements made subsequently by Kelce and his brother Jason.
“If you wanna be a f***ing d*** about it, you keep your helmet and your football and you’re f***ing kicking tee right where the quarterbacks are warming up.
“If you’re not gonna pick that up, I’ll happily move that for you.”
Travis went on to say that Tucker was making jokes, winking at him, and attempting to irritate him.
“Me and Pat had the same mentality all week long… you gotta go in there with the right mindset and we just weren’t in a joking mood.”
After that, Kelce apologized to Tucker for taking things too far, but he made a joke about how he could always outdo him in terms of being a d***.
The 2024 season begins with the Chiefs vs. Ravens game, and while many will be watching closely for Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, many will also be anticipating the warm-up. Before the season’s opening game, Kelce discussed the situation and expressed his opinions regarding any possible animosity.
“It was Tucker’s home field so I don’t know his routine is on this side of things,” he told The Rich Eisen show. I got nothing but love for Tucker. You know he was kind of giving me the wink and laughing about it last year and I don’t know it, I just wasn’t in a laughing mood.”
In a similar vein, Tucker avoided answering the question about whether he would alter his warm-up regimen.
“All I’ll say about it is I’m excited to go into a great environment, play against a great football team, with great players, great coaches, and do everything I can to prepare myself to be ready to contribute to the Ravens winning a football game. And that’s all I got to say about it.”
In the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory from January, Travis ran 116 yards and scored a touchdown on 11 receptions. Tucker scored the lone field goal for the Ravens. However, by February, Kelce was enjoying back-to-back Super Bowl victories and was after the elusive three-peat.
Despite being in Kansas City since 2013, there have been rumors that this might be Kelce’s final season. However, he has played that down, especially after beating the 49ers last season.
It didn’t cross my mind one bit,” he said.
It will take more than a few mind tricks to stop them from making history now that they have added wide receiver Hollywood Brown, fullback Carson Steele, and wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
